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Tuesday, August 19, 2008

4 Minute Devotions: Clearing Out

The older I get, the more I begin to realize that I am no longer carrying faith on my own: I’m giving it away.

Psalm 71: 18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.

I am a terrible hoarder. I keep things in my two studies that I will never use ever again. I’ve got pens that have dried up; pieces of paper with messages written long ago; notebooks full of half-baked ideas; cassette tapes that I will never listen to again; and old computers that will become antiques in a few years.

I need to start downsizing my clutter and get rid of these things. I need to create more space in order to think creatively, instead of being surrounded with things that I will never use. But each time I go to throw things out, I find an emotional attachment, an unexplored idea, a potential use, or a guilty feeling about letting it go. Clutter clings to me and I am possessed by my worthless possessions.

Spiritually, I sometimes feel the same. I fill my timetable with many plans, projects, and meetings. My head is full of interesting ideas, valuable visions, and innovative applications. Too much stuff and too many thoughts. Too much pressure and hardly any peace. I’m living the curse of the modern man – so many things to do; so little time left to do it in.

I need to de-clutter my soul and make more room, more time, and more space for God in my heart. I need to give away my faith more often, in order to grow with God. I need to use Time as a tool for getting the best out of life and giving my best to God. Like the psalmist, I want to grow old and gray, knowing the comforting presence of God, and telling His story to the next generation.

It’s not going to be easy letting go of all of my physical and spiritual clutter, but I have to start now or I will leave it too late. Today, I’ll let go of me and let God get a hold of me.

Prayer: Lord God, we keep filling the great gaps of our lives with things that are trivial and events that are unimportant. We set You aside to get what we want done and try to play catch up with You later on. We deplete our spirits and diminish our relationship with You, but when things go badly or if we do something wrong, we expect You to be there and rescue us. Lord, forgive us for taking You for granted. Help us today to specialize in You. Enable us to clear out the clutter in our hearts and minds; set our spirits free. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment upon today’s message, send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.